F!M   LIBRARY 


c,«8S±L^l5     F.4S& 


SUMMER  WILD  FLOWERS 


J.  FRANCIS  MACBRIDE 
Assistant  Curator,  Taxonomy,  Department  of  Botany 


GO 


53* 


Published  by 

FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 

CHICAGO 

1924 


A  *>? 


This  leaflet  is  the  third  of  a  series  of  Field  Museum 
leaflets  illustrating  some  of  the  more  common  or  attrac- 
tive wild  flowers  of  the  Chicago  region.  The  two  pre- 
ceding leaflets  describe  the  spring  and  early  summer 
flowers,  and  a  fourth  will  illustrate  autumn  flowers  and 
fruits. 

LIST  OF  BOTANICAL  LEAFLETS  ISSUED  TO  DATE 

No.  1.  Figs $  .10 

No.  2.  The  Coco  Palm 10 

No.  3.  Wheat .10 

No.  4.  Cacao        10 

No.  5.  A  Fossil  Flower 10 

No.  6.  The  Cannon  Ball  Tree  (in  preparation)    ...         .10 

No.  7.  Spring  Wild  Flowers 25 

No.  8.  Spring  and  Early  Summer  Wild  Flowers      .     .         .25 

No.  9.  Summer  Wild  Flowers 25 

No.  10.  Autumn  Flowers  and  Fruits 25 

D.  C.  DAVIES 

DIRECTOR 

FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 
CHICAGO,  U.S.A. 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 

DEPARTMENT  OF  BOTANY 
Chicago,  1924 

Leaflet  Number  9 


SUMMER  WILD  FLOWERS 


MILKWEED.    SILKWEED 

(Asclepias  species) 

The  usually  milky  juice  and  the  silk-filled  pods 
characterize  this  well-known  perennial.  The  flowers 
are  distinctive,  with  pentagonal  centers  surrounded 
by  five  hood-like  structures  each  containing  an  incurved 
horn.  Of  many  species,  none  is  handsomer  than  the 
Butterflyweed  with  its  brilliant  orange-red  flowers, 
red  stalk  and  green  leaves.  The  Common  Milkweed, 
much  taller  and  stouter,  with  purplish  flowers, 
furnishes  from  its  pods  the  "silk"  from  which  orna- 
ments are  made.  The  Swamp  Milkweed  is  another 
common  variety  with  many  leaves  and  rose-purple 
flowers.     (Milkweed  Family) 


[63] 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


ARROW-HEAD 

(Sagittaria  species) 
About  the  muddy  edges  of  streams  and  in  shallow 
shores  the  Smooth  Arrow-head  produces  white,  yel- 
low-centered flowers  all  summer  long.  Usually  the 
leaves  are  broadly  arrow-shaped,  borne  on  long  stalks, 
but  sometimes,  when  the  plant  grows  in  deeper  water, 
they  are  long  and  narrow.     (Water  Plantain  Family) 

[64] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


PICKEREL-WEED 
(Pontederia  cor  data) 

The  violet-blue  flower-spikes  of  the  Pickerel-weed 
are  usually  seen  massed  along  the  margins  of  ponds 
and  in  marshes.  The  smooth  stout  stem  bears  only 
one  leaf,  the  other  long-stalked  heart-shaped  leaves 
being  produced  directly  from  the  creeping  roots. 

It  is  said  that  the  Pickerel  is  wont  to  place  its 
eggs  at  the  bases  of  this  shore  plant.  (Pickerel-weed 
Family) 

[65] 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


LILY 

(Lilium  species) 
Only  one  of  our  three  species  of  lilies  bears  its 
blossoms  erect.     This  is  the  Wood  Lily.     Its  flowers 
are  reddish  orange  or  deep  red,  spotted  with  purplish. 

The  flowers  of  the  Yellow  Lily  of  moist  meadows 
and  bogs  are  borne  nodding  on  long  stalks.  They  are 
of  a  yellow  or  orange  color,  usually  spotted  with  brown. 

The  Turk's  Cap  Lily  is  the  finest  of  all.  Its  stems, 
reared  in  rich  low  grounds  to  a  height  of  several  feet, 
bear  nodding  orange  flowers  that  are  thickly  spotted 
with  purple  within.  The  flower  parts  are  strongly 
turned  back.     (Lily  Family) 

[66] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


FRINGED  ORCHIS 

(Habenaria  species) 
The  Fringed  Orchis,  one  of  our  finest  native  or- 
chids, usually  grows  in  a  bog  or  wet  meadow  where 
it  raises  its  slender  stem  to  a  height  of  one  or  two  feet. 
Near  its  summit,  in  a  short  wand  or  raceme,  are  the 
two-lipped  golden  or  purplish  flowers.  The  lower 
part  or  "lip",  of  the  blossom  is  prominently  fringed; 
often  it  is  also  three-parted.  The  small  slender  leaves 
are  rather  inconspicuous  and  borne  erectly  along  the 
stem.     (Orchid  Family) 

[67] 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


CAMPION.     CATCHFLY 

(Silene  and  Lychnis  species) 
The  Campions  comprise  a  group  of  attractive 
flowers  which  includes  the  Ragged  Robin  and  the  Wild 
Pink,  all  related  to  the  Carnation.  They  are  slender- 
stemmed  small-leaved  plants  characterized  by  a  tubular 
usually  inflated  or  box-like  calyx  from  the  top  of  which 
protrude  the  slender  often  cleft  or  fringed  petals. 
These  may  be  white,  pink,  or  scarlet.  The  White 
Starry  Campion  of  woody  banks  is  pictured.  (Pink 
Family) 

[68] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


BOUNCING  BET.     SOAPWORT 

(Saponaria  officinalis) 
When  this  stout  perennial  of  roadsides  is  culti- 
vated its  showy  rose-colored  flowers  are  commonly 
double  instead  of  single  as  shown  in  the  photograph. 
At  the  apparent  base  of  each  petal,  where  it  enters 
the  tube-  or  box-like  calyx,  there  is  a  little  fringe. 

The  juice  of  this  plant  forms  a  soapy  lather  with 
water.      (Pink  Family) 

[69] 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


[70] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


WATER  LILIES 
(Nymphaea,  Castalia  and  Nelumbo  species) 

The  most  attractive  of  our  Water  Lilies  is  the 
Sweet  Scented  Water  Nymph  of  ponds  or  slow-flowing 
streams.  Its  solitary  white  or  pink-tinged  flower,  that 
is  often  five  inches  across,  opens  soon  after  sunrise, 
and  closes  during  the  afternoon.  Its  round  leaves  are 
usually  purplish-red  beneath. 

The  Common  Cow  Lily  or  Spatter-dock  of  quiet  or 
stagnant  waters  may  be  known  by  its  simple  yellow 
flowers  that  are  produced  all  summer.  Often  they  are 
in  part  purplish-tinged.  The  Lotus  or  Water  Chinqua- 
pin has  large  yellow  flowers  and  circular  leaves  usually 
raised  high  out  of  the  water.  Both  the  tubers  and  seeds 
of  this  species  of  Water  Lily  are  edible.  (Water  Lily 
Family) 


[71] 


10 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


TICK  TREFOIL 
(Desmodium  species) 

The  pea-like  flowers  of  the  Showy  Tick  Trefoil 
illustrated  are  purple ;  the  leaves  consist  of  three  leaf- 
lets borne  together  at  the  end  of  a  single  stalk;  the 
erect  stems  are  often  several  feet  high.  There  are 
many  species  of  Tick  Trefoils,  all  possessing  the  three- 
foliate  leaves  and  flat  pods,  which,  deeply  lobed  along 
one  side,  finally  separate  into  several  joints  or  parts. 
(Pea  Family) 

[72] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


11 


*i  is 


JEWELWEED.     TOUCH-ME-NOT 

(Impatiens  species) 
The  succulent  Jewelweed  growing  smooth  and 
rank  in  wet  shady  places  may  be  recognized  easily  by 
its  delicately  pendulous  flowers.  These  are  somewhat 
bell-shaped  but  the  closed  portion  tapers  to  a  recurved 
hook  or  spur.  The  color  is  pale  yellow  or  orange, 
more  or  less  dotted  with  reddish-brown. 

The  ripe  seed-pods  open  at  the  slightest  touch, 
throwing  their  seeds  to  a  distance  of  several  feet. 
(Touch-me-not-Family) 

[73] 


12 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


Courtesy  Frank  M.  Woodruff,  Curator,  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences. 


ST.  JOHN'S  WORT 
{Hypericum  species) 

The  St.  John's  Wort  is  recognized  readily  by  its 
yellow  flowers,  their  centers  filled  with  tufts  of  fila- 
mentous stamens,  and  by  its  dotted  leaves.  These 
transparent  dots  are  especially  noticeable  upon  holding 
a  leaf  to  the  light.  There  are  many  species,  some 
herbs,  some  bushes,  but  none  are  finer  than  the  Shrubby 
St.  John's  Wort  shown  in  the  picture.  (St.  John's 
Wort  Family) 

[74] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


13 


GREAT  WILLOW-HERB.  FIREWEED 
(Epilobium  angustifolium) 
Where  a  piece  of  land  has  been  burned  over, 
especially  a  lowland,  or  a  clearing  made,  the  Fireweed 
is  almost  sure  to  raise  its  pyramidal  raceme  of  showy 
purple-red  blossoms.  These  are  borne  toward  the  top 
of  a  glossy  stem  that  may  be  six  feet  high.  The  leaves 
are  lance-shaped  and  scattered  along  the  stalk  below 
the  flowers.     (Evening  Primrose  Family) 


[75] 


14 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


Courtesy  Frank  M.  Woodruff,  Curator,  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences. 


QUEEN  ANNE'S  LACE 
(Daucus  Carota) 

Doubtless  the  farmer  considers  the  well-known 
Queen  Anne's  Lace  a  "pernicious  weed"  of  fields  and 
waste  places.  However,  its  tall  bristly  stems  with 
much  divided  fern-like  leaves  bear  at  their  summits 
very  pretty  flat-topped  sprays  composed  of  numerous 
clusters  of  tiny  white  or  roseate  flowers. 

The  Water  Parsnip  of  muddy  shores  is  a  similar 
plant  with  smooth  stout  stems  and  coarser  leaf -divis- 
ions.     (Parsley  Family) 

[76] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


15 


HEDGE   BINDWEED.     WILD    MORNING   GLORY 
(Convolvulus  septum) 

The  Morning  Glory-like  flowers  of  this  vine  of 
hedge-rows,  stream-thickets  and  cornfields  are  white 
or  rose-tinted;  the  leaves  are  triangular  or  halberd- 
shaped  and  are  often  somewhat  toothed  near  the  base. 

The  twining  stems  of  the  Bindweed  always  turn 
to  the  left  (opposite  to  the  direction  of  the  hands  of  a 
watch).  They  grow  and  move  very  rapidly,  observa- 
tions having  shown  that  they  may  describe  a  com- 
plete circle  in  less  than  two  hours.  (Morning  Glory 
Family) 

[77] 


16 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


VERBENA.    BLUE  VERVAIN 
(Verbena  species) 

Slender  spikes  of  small  bright  violet-blue  flowers 
borne,  candelabra-like,  at  the  top  of  a  straight  leafy 
stem  characterize  the  Blue  Vervain.  The  plants  often 
grow  in  groups,  forming  showy  patches  along  road- 
sides or  in  pastures.  The  brilliant  Verbena  of  gar- 
dens is  a  related  herb. 

The  Vervain,  as  one  of  the  so-called  "sacred 
plants"  of  ancient  times,  was  supposed  to  possess 
many  virtues,  including  the  power  to  offset  the  in- 
fluence of  witches.     (Verbena  Family) 

[78] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


17 


FALSE  DRAGON  HEAD 
(Physostegia  virginiana) 

The  handsome  tubular  and  two-lipped  rose-purple 
flowers  of  this  tall  perennial  of  wet  places  are  borne 
in  one  or  several  wand-like  spikes  at  the  summit  of  the 
leafy  stem.  The  numerous,  longish  leaves  are  sharply- 
toothed. 

The  False  Dragon  Head  has  the  square  stems  and 
opposite  leaves  that  characterize  all  the  members  of 
the  Mint  Family. 

[79] 


18 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


WILD  BERGAMOT 

(Monarda  fistulosa) 

Square  stems,  oppositely  placed  leaves  and  head- 
like showy  clusters  of  tubular  two-lipped  flowers  serve 
to  identify  this  vigorous  perennial.  The  slender  blos- 
soms are  sometimes  lilac,  sometimes  pink,  or  even 
crimson.  The  plants  vary  from  a  foot  to  several  feet 
in  height,  usually  many  stems  growing  together  in  a 
clump. 

Closely  related  is  the  Horse,  Mint  with  the  flower- 
heads  in  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves.  Its  blossoms 
are  yellowish  with  purple  dots.      (Mint  Family) 

[80] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


19 


COMMON  MULLEIN.     VELVET  PLANT 

(Verbascum  Thapsus) 

The  tall  stout  wand-like  stem  of  the  woolly  leaved 
Mullein  is  a  familiar  sight  along  pasture  fences  and  in 
old  fields.  In  some  places  it  bears  the  rather  apt 
names  of  Aaron's  Rod  and  Jacob's  Staff.  The  Mullein 
is  an  immigrant  from  Europe,  supposed  to  have  come 
over  in  ship  ballast.     (Figwort  Family) 

[81] 


20 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


BUTTER  AND  EGGS 
(Linaria  vulgaris) 
Originally  an  introduced  garden  plant  from 
Europe,  the  Yellow  Toadflax  is  now  common  in  our 
fields  and  roadsides  where  its  orange  and  yellow 
flowers,  borne  in  profusion,  make  colorful  patches.  Its 
straight  stems,  sometimes  a  foot  or  more  in  height,  are 
thickly  clothed  with  numerous  narrow  leaves.  It  is 
said  that  the  acrid  juice  of  this  plant,  when  mixed 
with  milk,  makes  an  excellent  fly-poison.  (Figwort 
Family) 

[82] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


21 


Courtesy  Frank  M.  Woodruff,  Curator,  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences. 


TURTLEHEAD.  SNAKEHEAD.  SHELL  FLOWER 
(Chelone  glabra) 
The  names  of  this  plant  all  refer  to  the  shape  of 
the  flower.  The  tall  branching  stems,  slender  leaves, 
and  terminal  clusters  or  spikes  of  the  large  white  or 
rose-tinged  flowers  well  mark  this  smooth  perennial 
of  wet  places.      (Figwort  Family) 

[83] 


22 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


CULVER'S-ROOT.  CULVER'S  PHYSIC 
( Veron tea  v  irginica ) 
The  slender  tapering  white  or  blue-tinted  spikes 
of  this  herb  of  moist  woods  and  meadows  are  well- 
known.  .  It  has  tall  smooth  stems  and  finely  toothed 
leaves  that  are  borne  at  intervals  in  whorls  of  four  or 
seven.     (Figwort  Family) 

[84] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


23 


BUTTONBUSH 

(Cephalanthus  occidentalis) 
The  heads  of  white  flowers,  borne  like  balls  on 
short  stalks,  distinguish  easily  this  shrub  of  swamps 
and  stream  banks.  Its  leaves  grow  in  pairs  and  in 
threes  at  intervals  along  the  smooth  stems.  The  most 
interesting  feature  of  the  Buttonbush  is  the  delightful 
fragrance  of  the  flowers.  These  are  rather  inconspicu- 
ous but  keep  opening  from  June  to  Sept.  (Coffee  Fam.) 

[85] 


24 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


BALSAM  APPLE.     WILD   CUCUMBER 
(Echinocystis  lobata) 

This  vine  of  river-thickets  is  well-known  in  culti- 
vation as  an  annual  shade-plant  on  arbors  and  porches. 
Its  small  greenish-white  flowers  are  scarcely  as  orna- 
mental as  the  nodding  inflated  egg-shaped  pods,  covered 
with  weak  prickles.   The  pods  finally  burst  at  one  end. 

The  Bur  or  Star  Cucumber  is  similar  but  has 
fewer  clustered  flowers  and  small  clustered  pods  that 
are  densely  armed  with  slender  spines.  (Gourd 
Family) 

[86] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


25 


BLACK-EYED  SUSAN.  RUDBECKIA 
(Rudbeckia  hirta) 
The  daisy-like  flowers  of  the  Rudbeckia  or  "Yel- 
low Daisy",  as  it  is  often  called,  have  dark  brown  or 
nearly  black  raised  centers  and  yellow  rays  or  "petals". 
They  are  solitary  on  the  tall  (1-3  ft.)  bristly-hairy 
stems.  The  rather  few  and  narrowish  leaves  are  as 
rough  to  the  touch  as  the  stalks. 

The  Black-eyed  Susan  blooms  from  June  to  Sep- 
tember and  sometimes  is  a  troublesome  weed  in  fields 
and  meadows.  It  is  one  of  the  few  plants  native  to  the 
United  States  which,  carried  to  Europe  with  grain, 
etc.,  has  become  established  there  as  a  weed.  (Daisy 
Family) 

[87] 


26 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


BLAZING  STAR.     GAYFEATHER 
(Liatris  species) 

The  tall  wand-like  stems  of  this  perennial  of  sunny 
places  produce,  to  some  distance  below  their  tops, 
feathery  rose-purple  flowers  that  suggest  little  tufts 
of  ragged  colored  paper.  The  stem  is  clothed  with 
numerous  slender  leaves. 

The  name  "Button  Snakeroot"  given  to  this  plant 
refers  to  the  roundish  tuber  which  superstition  con- 
nects with  a  cure  for  rattlesnake  bite.     (Daisy  Family) 

[88] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


27 


MAY-WEED.     CHAMOMILE 

(Anthemis  Cotula) 

This  ill-scented  weed  of  barnyards  and  roadsides, 
bearing  numerous  white  daisy-like  flowers  with  yellow 
centers,  is  attractive  as  long  as  it  is  not  picked.  Like 
the  Skunk  Cabbage  and  some  red  Trilliums  it  is  a  plant 
to  be  admired  where  it  grows.  It  is  a  low  annual  herb 
with  finely  divided  leaves  and  is  closely  related  to  the 
strong-scented  Chamomile  of  old  gardens.  (Daisy 
Family) 

[89] 


28 


Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


Courtesy  Frank  M.  Woodruff,  Curator,  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences. 


OX-EYE.     FALSE  SUNFLOWER 

(Heliopsis  scabra) 
The  Ox-eye,  with  Sunflower-like  blossoms  on  long- 
stalks,  is  a  rather  coarse  perennial  of  sunny  dryish 
soils.  Its  ovate  leaves,  roughish  to  the  touch  and 
toothed  along  the  edges  are  borne  in  pairs  at  close 
intervals  along  the  tall  stems.     (Daisy  Family) 

[90] 


Summer  Wild  Flowers 


29 


YARROW.     MILFOIL 

(Achillea  Millefolium) 
This  weedy  plant  of  a  "thousand  leaves"  has  nearly 
as  many  names.  Since  the  days  of  Troy  it  has  had 
some  association  with  humanity.  At  one  time  its 
pungently-scented,  finely-divided  leaves  were  thought 
to  have  a  remedial  value;  again  its  white  or  purplish 
flat-topped  clusters  of  small  flowers  have  been  con- 
sidered as  worthy  a  place  in  the  garden:  just  now  it 
is  usually  only  a  field  or  roadside  weed  where  it  is  often 
such  a  nuisance  that  its  beauty  is  rarely  recognized. 
(Daisy  Family) 

[91] 


30  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 


The  photographs,  unless  otherwise  credited,  are  by  L.  W. 
Brownell,  with  the  exception  of  the  Fringed  Orchis  by  C.  F. 
Millspaugh,  and  Vervain,  False  Dragon  Head  and  Blazing  Star 
by  H.  H.  Smith. 

J.  Francis  Macbride. 


[92] 


